The Underground
"Here we are again. It seems a long time since we haven't seen her, but we just witnessed her mesmerizing match last week. Well, we can get enough of her!"
Moderator no. one.
"Look at her glass skin. After a week, there are no bruises on her left behind at all."
Moderator no. two.
"These two are just motherfucking perverts..."
Laith mumbles while watching Roelle in the ring. He is standing in the team section with Coach and two team members.
"She didn't tell you why she's doing this?"
Coach asks Laith, who is staring at Roelle without a blink.
"No."
Laith is very disappointed that Roelle doesn't trust him enough.
"Did you ask her?"
"...No."
"Thug!!"
Then Coach slaps him on the back of the neck.
"Aren't you worried?"
Coach.
"Of course, I am...very much. But I don't want to provoke something..."
He squeezes Roelle's sneakers in his hand while hanging beside his body.
"What..."
"She still seems to have doubts about me..."
"You think for her mind?... Do you want to play mind games with her, Laith?...if not, ask...tell her what you're thinking...or feeling... She's a very honest person... She'll tell you back."
"Will she?"
"Look at Reize's eyes, which are too sharp compared to her shadow's blade!!!"
Moderator no. one.
"..."
Laith gazes at her.
"It must be something..."
Laith mumbles and clenches his jaw.
It bothers him that something bothers her.
"You're both important to each other. Remember what happened to her that night. She was worried about you more than herself."
"Perhaps she doesn't tell me because of that as well."
"..."
"Ask...before it's too late."
"Xiao Ming slides and dodges her kicks nonstop. Reize doesn't come here to play!!!"
Moderator no. two.
"She catches his hair! OH MY GOD!! Don't tell me she's about to finish him!!?"
Moderator no. one.
Roelle boldly grabs his hair and pulls him down, raises and folds her right knee, which is turning to black storm over her leg, and attacks his face aggressively.
And the blood splashing out from his nose.
"Thug!"
Xiao Ming's body falls down.
"Ha..."
Laith gasps softly.
"ROELLE REIZE ONCE AGAIN KNOCKS THE OPPONENT OUT WITHIN ONE ROUND!!! AND NOT JUST ANY OPPONENT, BUT HE'S THE FIGHTER OF DR. ZHEN YONG!!!!"
Moderator no. two.
"!!!!"
Laith opens his eyes after seeing Roelle's reaction to the moderator's speech.
She turns her face to look at the man who owns the unconscious body. She doesn't even blink, and her eyes glare at the man who is walking toward Laith and Coach's direction. Then, Laith totally sees her entire face and starts to know what that look is.
"She knows Zhen Yong?"
Laith speaks lightly to himself.
"Laith."
"Dr. Zhen."
Laith.
"Your girl...Roelle Reize...how old is she?"
"...22, sir."
"She's still young...Xiao Ming is 27...We'll see each other again tomorrow?"
"Yes."
I change my clothes back in the changing room and am about to pick up my jacket. I notice the knuckles on my right hand, which are all red, and I raise my other hand, which is also red. Even though I knocked him out in the first round, I used all my energy, aimed at every weak and dead spot, but that man was too strong, also his shadow. I had no time to take a defense, only attack. That's why every part of my body that I use to attack is all red.
And my opponent, Xiao Ming, is one of his fighters.
I don't have to find him that hard. He just comes to me, but it doesn't mean it's easy for me to get to him.
If I get to him, what will I do anyway? Give him money directly and ask him what the pills do, where he finds them, and why you sell other people secretly. Is it illegal? And tell him to leave Aven alone? And stop selling to him?
I squeeze my fists.
"*Sigh."
"Roelle."
Mr. Laith's voice from behind.
"..."
I don't even dare myself to look at him directly.
Whether I tell him or not, whether I do it myself or with him, everything will lead back to him. I am creating a mess for him anyway.
Mr. Laith walks and stops behind me. He bends his body and grabs my jacket.
"Can you turn around?"
He asks.
I say nothing and turn around to face him but do not look up to see his face.
He puts my jacket over me and extends my sleeves so I can put my arms through. I follow his lead. He zips up my jacket, passes through my chest, and up to my neck.
"Roelle."
He calls me again. He puts his left hand to touch my right cheek, which is red because of the punch I got hit. And he is rubbing it softly.
I raise my hand to touch his left hand.
"Does it hurt?"
"..."
I hold his hand instead.
"You hands."
Mr. Laith sees my red knuckles. He takes both my hands to see the close look.
"Roelle, can we go somewhere?... I have to tell you something."
"?"
I look up seeing his dark green-amber eyes.
The cool breeze this night gives me a feeling as I open the freezer in front of me. We are strolling along the river beside the village. Mr. Laith stops at the tree and turns his body to the side, facing the river that is flowing along the wind. I turn my body to the side and look at the dark river that is sparkling on the surface because of the moonlight and the street lights. Then, I look up and let the breeze run through my face and my hair.
"Beautiful."
Mr. Laith.
"..."
I slowly turn my face to him.
"It's very beautiful."
He tells me while looking at me and turns his face to the river.
"Yes."
"You're not temporary… that's why I said what I said...I just wanted to protect you."
"..."
I turn to look at him again.
"The first time I saw you, I thought I had found the jackpot. No one is like you, fights like you, or controls the shadow like you…And you're very beautiful… It's like a present sent from heaven or something…"
He tells me with a little smile on his face.
"!"
"And I really wanted to have you…eventually, I got you. So I had to do everything that made you feel comfortable enough to stay, but I didn't want to lie to you about the dangers you might get. No matter what happens to you, it's my responsibility… that's what I thought."
He explains to me and gives a glance at the end.
"..."
"And I was very surprised about your determination. And match after match. You didn't quit…and despite the fear you had toward the fight, you still had fun. Then, I thought you definitely chose this part to be in your life and accepted me."
"..."
He turns his body to my way and looks straight into my eyes.
"Roelle, you're not just my responsibility anymore… You're more than that. You're playing a big part in my life…not just as my fighter…but you're Roelle…my Roelle…"
He steps closer to me, and all I see is his chest.
"I can not bear the feeling that you're going to get hurt or be in danger. I can not choose or stop you for what you're trying to do…so please, Roelle, tell me what is going on. And what are you trying to do right now? What is in your head?…and let me help."
He keeps talking while his right hand touches my left one.
"!!"
I am fluttering and shocked at the same time by his words and his gestures. Then I look up to see his face.
"You don't have to be scared that you will cause any trouble for me…whatever trouble that involves you, directly or not, I'm with you…"
His eyes give me the same feeling as his smile, sweetness.
"...ha…Mr. Laith."
I can feel the sparkling of the streetlight, twinkling in my eyes as I see the man in front of me.
He takes out his left hand from his pocket and holds my other hand. He uses his thumbs, rubbing my knuckles gently.
"Can you tell me?"
He asks.